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Background: Adaptation of fat depots to change in fuel availability is critical for metabolic flexibility and cardiometabolic health. The mechanisms responsible for fat depot-specific lipid sensing and shuttling remain elusive. Adipose tissue microvascular endothelial cells (AT-EC) regulates bidirectional fatty acid fluxes depending on fed or fasted state. How AT-EC sense and adapt to metabolic changes according to AT location remains to be established. Methods: We combined transcriptional analysis of native human AT-EC together with in vitro approaches in primary human AT-EC and in vivo and ex vivo studies of mice under fed and fasted conditions. Results: Transcriptional large-scale analysis of human AT-EC isolated from gluteofemoral and abdominal subcutaneous AT revealed that the endothelium exhibits a fat depot–specific signature associated with lipid handling and Notch signaling enrichment. We uncovered a functional link between metabolic status and endothelial DLL4 (delta-like canonical notch ligand 4), which decreases with fasting. DLL4 regulates fatty acid uptake through nontranscriptional modulation of macropinocytosis-dependent long chain fatty acid uptake. Importantly, the changes in DLL4 expression, in response to energy transition state, is impaired under obesogenic conditions, an early alteration coinciding with a defect in systemic fatty acid fluxes adaptation and a resistance to weight loss. Conclusions: DLL4 is a major actor in the adaptive mechanisms of AT-EC to regulate lipid fluxes. It likely contributes to fat depot-dependent metabolism in response to energy transition states. AT-EC alteration with obesity may favor metabolic inflexibility and the development of cardiometabolic disorders.

International audience; Senescence is a key event in the impairment of adipose tissue (AT) function with obesity and aging but the underlying molecular and cellular players remain to be fully defined, particularly with respect to the human AT progenitors. We have found distinct profiles of senescent progenitors based on AT location between stroma from visceral versus subcutaneous AT. In addition to flow cytometry, we characterized the location differences with transcriptomic and proteomic approaches, uncovering the genes and developmental pathways that are underlying replicative senescence. We identified key components to include INBHA as well as SFRP4 and GREM1, antagonists for the WNT and BMP pathways, in the senescence-associated secretory phenotype and NOTCH3 in the senescence-associated intrinsic phenotype. Notch activation in AT progenitors inhibits adipogenesis and promotes myofibrogenesis independently of TGFβ. In addition, we demonstrate that NOTCH3 is enriched in the premyofibroblast progenitor subset, which preferentially accumulates in the visceral AT of patients with an early obesity trajectory. Herein, we reveal that NOTCH3 plays a role in the balance of progenitor fate determination preferring myofibrogenesis at the expense of adipogenesis. Progenitor NOTCH3 may constitute a tool to monitor replicative senescence and to limit AT dysfunction in obesity and aging.

Background: The adipose tissue (AT) is a secretory organ producing a wide variety of factors that participate in the genesis of metabolic disorders linked to excess fat mass. Weight loss improves obesity-related disorders.Objectives: Transcriptomic studies on human AT, and a combination of analyses of transcriptome and proteome profiling of conditioned media from adipocytes and stromal cells isolated from human AT, have led to the identification of apolipoprotein M (apoM) as a putative adipokine. We aimed to validate apoM as novel adipokine, investigate the relation of AT APOM expression with metabolic syndrome and insulin sensitivity, and study the regulation of its expression in AT and secretion during calorie restriction-induced weight loss.Methods: We examined APOM mRNA level and secretion in AT from 485 individuals enrolled in 5 independent clinical trials, and in vitro in human multipotent adipose-derived stem cell adipocytes. APOM expression and secretion were measured during dieting.Results: APOM was expressed in human subcutaneous and visceral AT, mainly by adipocytes. ApoM was released into circulation from AT, and plasma apoM concentrations correlate with AT APOM mRNA levels. In AT, APOM expression inversely correlated with adipocyte size, was lower in obese compared to lean individuals, and reduced in subjects with metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. Regardless of fat depot, there was a positive relation between AT APOM expression and systemic insulin sensitivity, independently of fat mass and plasma HDL cholesterol. In human multipotent adipose-derived stem cell adipocytes, APOM expression was enhanced by insulin-sensitizing peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor agonists and inhibited by tumor necrosis factor a, a cytokine that causes insulin resistance. In obese individuals, calorie restriction increased AT APOM expression and secretion.Conclusions: ApoM is a novel adipokine, the expression of which is a hallmark of healthy AT and is upregulated by calorie restriction. AT apoM deserves further investigation as a potential biomarker of risk for diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

The incidence of disorders associated with low inflammatory state, such as chronic kidney disease, increases in the elderly. The accumulation of senescent cells during aging and the senescence-associated secretory phenotype, which leads to inflammaging, is known to be deleterious and account for progressive organ dysfunction. To date, the cellular actors implicated in chronic inflammation in the kidney during aging are still not well characterized. Using the DECyt method, based on hierarchical clustering of flow cytometry data, we showed that aging was associated with significant changes in stromal cell diversity in the kidney. In particular, we identified two cell populations up-regulated with aging, the mesenchymal stromal cell subset (kMSC) expressing CD73 and the monocyte-derived Ly6C+ CCR2+ macrophage subset expressing pro-inflammatory cytokines. Aged CD73+ kMSCs depicted senescence associated features with low proliferation rate, increased DNA damage foci and Ccl2 expression. Using co-cultures experiments, we showed that aged CD73+ kMSC promoted monocyte activation and secretion of inflammatory cytokines albeit less efficiently than young CD73+ kMSCs. In the context of ageing, increased frequency of CD73+ kMSC subpopulations could provide additional niche factors to newly recruited monocytes favoring a positive regulatory loop in response to local inflammation. Interfering with such partnership during aging could be a valuable approach to regulate kidney inflammaging and to limit the risk of developing chronic kidney disease in the elderly. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00018-020-03719-0.

Pomegranate juice (PJ) is a beverage with potential beneficial effects due to its high content of polyphenols. The objective of this study is to explore at a molecular level the direct properties of PJ and its two main polyphenolic components, punicalagin and ellagic acid, on adipocyte functions. Increasing doses of PJ were tested using radiometric methods to determine amine oxidase activities in human adipose tissue preparations. The influences on lipogenic and lipolytic activity were also assessed by radiochemical and colorimetric assays. The results showed a dose-dependent capacity of PJ to inhibit the monoamine oxidase and the semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase activities present in human adipose tissue. PJ also inhibited lipogenesis and lipolysis in mouse and human adipose cells, while punicalagin and ellagic acid inhibited lipolysis rather than lipogenesis. However, the combination of punicalagin and ellagic acid resulted in a synergistic action in impairing MAO activity or basal glucose incorporation into lipids.

Human adipose tissue (hAT) is constituted of structural units termed lobules, the organization of which remains to be defined. Here we report that lobules are composed of two extracellular matrix compartments, i.e., septa and stroma, delineating niches of CD45−/CD34+/CD31− progenitor subsets characterized by MSCA1 (ALPL) and CD271 (NGFR) expression. MSCA1+ adipogenic subset is enriched in stroma while septa contains mainly MSCA1−/CD271− and MSCA1−/CD271high progenitors. CD271 marks myofibroblast precursors and NGF ligand activation is a molecular relay of TGFβ-induced myofibroblast conversion. In human subcutaneous (SC) and visceral (VS) AT, the progenitor subset repartition is different, modulated by obesity and in favor of adipocyte and myofibroblast fate, respectively. Lobules exhibit depot-specific architecture with marked fibrous septa containing mesothelial-like progenitor cells in VSAT. Thus, the human AT lobule organization in specific progenitor subset domains defines the fat depot intrinsic capacity to remodel and may contribute to obesity-associated cardiometabolic risks., In human adipose tissue (AT), adipocytes are organized into units of lobules. Here the authors identify distinct fibrous septal and stromal compartments within AT lobules that differ in composition and potential between subcutaneous and visceral regions and are disturbed in obesity and metabolic syndrome.

Novel mechanisms and health benefits have been recently suggested for the antidepressant drug phenelzine (PHE), known as a nonselective monoamine oxidase inhibitor. They include an antilipogenic action that could have an impact on excessive fat accumulation and obesity-related metabolic alterations. We evaluated the metabolic effects of an oral PHE treatment on mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD). Eleven-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were fed a HFD and either a 0.028% PHE solution (HFD + PHE) or water to drink for 11 weeks. PHE attenuated the increase in body weight and adiposity without affecting food consumption. Energy efficiency was lower in HFD + PHE mice. Lipid content was reduced in subcutaneous fat pads, liver, and skeletal muscle. In white adipose tissue (WAT), PHE reduced sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase mRNA levels, inhibited amine-induced lipogenesis, and did not increase lipolysis. Moreover, HFD + PHE mice presented diminished levels of hydrogen peroxide release in subcutaneous WAT and reduced expression of leukocyte transmigration markers and proinflammatory cytokines in visceral WAT and liver. PHE reduced the circulating levels of glycerol, triacylglycerols, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and insulin. Insulin resistance was reduced, without affecting glucose levels and glucose tolerance. In contrast, PHE increased rectal temperature and slightly increased energy expenditure. The mitigation of HFD-induced metabolic disturbances points toward a promising role for PHE in obesity treatment and encourages further research on its mechanisms of action. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Phenelzine reduces body fat, markers of oxidative stress, inflammation, and insulin resistance in high-fat diet mice. Semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase, monoamine oxidase, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, and sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c are involved in the metabolic effects of phenelzine. Phenelzine could be potentially used for the treatment of obesity-related complications.

Introduction Accumulation of adipose tissue in the central part of the body arising with obesity and aging, is associated with metabolic inflexibility and the development of cardiovascular diseases. The cellular actors and pathophysiological mechanisms linking obesity/aging and cardiometabolic abnormalities remain to be clearly identified. Our data support that microvascular endothelial cells from the adipose tissue (EC-AT) are a major determinant of metabolic flexibility, in particular through their ability to regulate bidirectional fatty acid (FA) fluxes. We hypothesize that alteration of this function contributes to the emergence of cardiometabolic disorders associated with natural and accelerated aging. Objective Our objective is to gain insight into the ability of EC-AT to sense and adapt to metabolic clues and regulate FA fluxes accordingly. Ultimately, our goal is to identify original approaches targeting the endothelium to maintain and/or restore metabolic flexibility and hamper the progression of aging-related cardiovascular disorders. Among the putative molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of transendothelial FA fluxes, we focused our attention on Notch signaling. Method We use native and primary microvascular EC isolated from human (CD45-/CD34+/CD31+) and mouse (CD45-/SCA1+/CD31+) adipose depots. Results In vivo and in vitro we observe that endothelial-Notch activity is regulated by nutritional status. In particular, the ligand DLL4 is downregulated by fasting and AMPK activation. Using human primary EC-AT, we show that DLL4 regulates long-chain FA uptake through transcriptional and non-transcriptional processes. Conclusion Our data highlight an original role for DLL4 as metabolic sensor in adipose depots that relays transcriptional and functional clues to the endothelium. In particular, DLL4 level likely defines the ability of EC-AT to rapidly adapt and handle lipid fluxes and contributes to the regulation of metabolic flexibility.

Objective— Adipose tissue (AT) dysfunction associated with obesity or aging is a major cause for lipid redistribution and the progression of cardiometabolic disorders. Our goal is to decipher the contribution of human AT microvascular endothelial cells (ECs) in the maintenance of fatty acid (FA) fluxes and the impact of senescence on their function. Approach and Results— We used freshly isolated primary microvascular ECs from human AT. Our data identified the endothelial FA handling machinery including FATPs (FA transport proteins) FATP1, FATP3, FATP4, and CD36 as well as FABP4 (FA binding protein 4). We showed that PPARγ (peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor gamma) regulates the expression of FATP1, CD36, and FABP4 and is a major regulator of FA uptake in human AT EC (hATEC). We provided evidence that endothelial PPARγ activity is modulated by senescence. Indeed, the positive regulation of FA transport by PPARγ agonist was abolished, whereas the emergence of an inflammatory response was favored in senescent hATEC. This was associated with the retention of nuclear FOXO1 (forkhead box protein O1), whereas nuclear PPARγ translocation was impaired. Conclusions— These data support the notion that PPARγ is a key regulator of primary hATEC function including FA handling and inflammatory response. However, the outcome of PPARγ activation is modulated by senescence, a phenomenon that may impact the ability of hATEC to properly respond to and handle lipid fluxes. Finally, our work highlights the role of hATEC in the regulation of FA fluxes and reveals that dysfunction of these cells with accelerated aging is likely to participate to AT dysfunction and the redistribution of lipids.

International audience; Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a pro-fibrotic mediator acting via specific receptors (LPARs) and is synthesized by autotaxin, that increases with obesity. We tested whether LPA could play a role in adipose tissue (AT)-fibrosis associated with obesity. Fibrosis [type I, III, and IV collagens (COL), fibronectin (FN), TGFβ, CTGF and αSMA] and inflammation (MCP1 and F4/80) markers were quantified: (i) in vivo in inguinal (IAT) and perigonadic (PGAT) AT from obese-diabetic db/db mice treated with the LPAR antagonist Ki16425 (5mg/kg/day ip for 7 weeks); and (ii) in vitro in human AT explants in primary culture for 72h in the presence of oleoyl-LPA (10μM) and/or Ki16425 (10μM) and/or the HIF-1α inhibitor YC-1 (100μM). Treatment of db/db mice with Ki16425 reduced Col I and IV mRNAs in IAT and PGAT while Col III mRNAs were only reduced in IAT. This was associated with reduction of COL protein staining in both IAT and PGAT. AT explants showed a spontaneous and time-dependent increase in ATX expression and production of LPA in the culture medium, along with increased levels of Col I and III, TGFβ and αSMA mRNAs and of COL protein staining. In vitro fibrosis was blocked by Ki16425 and was further amplified by oleoyl-LPA. LPA-dependent in vitro fibrosis was blocked by co-treatment with YC1. Our results show that endogenous and exogenous LPA exert a pro-fibrotic activity in AT in vivo and in vitro. This activity could be mediated by an LPA1R-dependent pathway and could involve HIF-1α.

OBJECTIVE Regional differences among adipose depots in capacities for fatty acid storage, susceptibility to hypoxia, and inflammation likely contribute to complications of obesity. We defined the properties of endothelial cells (EC) isolated from subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) biopsied in parallel from obese subjects. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS The architecture and properties of the fat tissue capillary network were analyzed using immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry. CD34+/CD31+ EC were isolated by immunoselection/depletion. Expression of chemokines, adhesion molecules, angiogenic factor receptors, as well as lipogenic and senescence-related genes were assayed by real-time PCR. Fat cell size and expression of hypoxia-dependent genes were determined in adipocytes from both fat depots. RESULTS Hypoxia-related genes were more highly expressed in VAT than SAT adipocytes. VAT adipocytes were smaller than SAT adipocytes. Vascular density and EC abundance were higher in VAT. VAT-EC exhibited a marked angiogenic and inflammatory state with decreased expression of metabolism-related genes, including endothelial lipase, GPIHBP1, and PPAR gamma. VAT-EC had enhanced expression of the cellular senescence markers, IGFBP3 and γ-H2AX, and decreased expression of SIRT1. Exposure to VAT adipocytes caused more EC senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity than SAT adipocytes, an effect reduced in the presence of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) neutralizing antibodies. CONCLUSIONS VAT-EC exhibit a more marked angiogenic and proinflammatory state than SAT-EC. This phenotype may be related to premature EC senescence. VAT-EC may contribute to hypoxia and inflammation in VAT.

International audience; CONTEXT: Follistatin is a glycoprotein that binds and neutralizes biological activities of TGFbeta superfamily members including activin and myostatin. We previously identified by expression profiling that follistatin levels in white adipose tissue (WAT) were regulated by obesity. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to elucidate the role of follistatin in human WAT and obesity. DESIGN: We measured secreted follistatin protein from WAT biopsies and fat cells in vitro. We also quantified follistatin mRNA expression in sc and visceral WAT and in WAT-fractionated cells and related it to obesity status, body region, and cellular origin. We investigated the effects of follistatin on adipocyte differentiation of progenitor cells in vitro. PARTICIPANTS: Women (n = 66) with a wide variation in body mass index were recruited by advertisement and from a clinic for weight-reduction therapy. RESULTS: WAT secreted follistatin in vitro. Follistatin mRNA levels in sc but not visceral WAT were decreased in obesity and restored to nonobese levels after weight reduction. Follistatin mRNA levels were high in the stroma-vascular fraction of WAT and low in adipocytes. Recombinant follistatin treatment promoted adipogenic differentiation of progenitor cells and neutralized the inhibitory action of myostatin on differentiation in vitro. Moreover, activin and myostatin signaling receptors were detected in WAT and adipocytes. CONCLUSION: Follistatin is a new adipokine important for adipogenesis. Down-regulated WAT expression of follistatin in obesity may counteract adiposity but could, by inhibiting adipogenesis, contribute to hypertrophic obesity (large fat cells) and insulin resistance.

Obesity-associated inflammation contributes to the development of metabolic diseases. Although brite adipocytes have been shown to ameliorate metabolic parameters in rodents, their origin and differentiation remain to be characterized in humans. Native CD45−/CD34+/CD31− cells have been previously described as human adipocyte progenitors. Using two additional cell surface markers, MSCA1 (tissue nonspecific alkaline phosphatase) and CD271 (nerve growth factor receptor), we are able to partition the CD45−/CD34+/CD31− cell population into three subsets. We establish serum-free culture conditions without cell expansion to promote either white/brite adipogenesis using rosiglitazone, or bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP7), or specifically brite adipogenesis using 3-isobuthyl-1-methylxanthine. We demonstrate that adipogenesis leads to an increase of MSCA1 activity, expression of white/brite adipocyte-related genes, and mitochondriogenesis. Using pharmacological inhibition and gene silencing approaches, we show that MSCA1 activity is required for triglyceride accumulation and for the expression of white/brite-related genes in human cells. Moreover, native immunoselected MSCA1+ cells exhibit brite precursor characteristics and the highest adipogenic potential of the three progenitor subsets. Finally, we provided evidence that MSCA1+ white/brite precursors accumulate with obesity in subcutaneous adipose tissue (sAT), and that local BMP7 and inflammation regulate brite adipogenesis by modulating MSCA1 in human sAT. The accumulation of MSCA1+ white/brite precursors in sAT with obesity may reveal a blockade of their differentiation by immune cells, suggesting that local inflammation contributes to metabolic disorders through impairment of white/brite adipogenesis. Stem Cells 2015;33:1277–1291

International audience; BACKGROUND: Allograft inflammatory factor 1 (AIF-1) is a putative obesity gene. Our aim was to examine the expression of AIF-1 in human white adipose tissue (WAT) in relation to obesity and metabolic phenotypes in women. METHODS: WAT secretion of AIF-1 was determined in subcutaneous adipose tissue pieces in vitro by ELISA from 5 subjects. mRNA expression of AIF-1 was determined by RT-qPCR in the isolated cell fractions of adipose tissue (n = 5-6 per group), in subcutaneous and visceral WAT pieces from non-obese (n = 12) and obese women (n = 23), and in some subcutaneous WAT also before and after weight reduction (n = 10). Finally, adipose AIF-1 mRNA was related to metabolic phenotypes in 96 subjects with a wide range of BMI. RESULTS: AIF-1 was secreted in a time dependent fashion from WAT. The major source of AIF-1 was WAT resident macrophages. Expression of AIF-1 was similar in visceral and subcutaneous WAT and was two-fold increased in obese women (P

Circulating lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) is an acute-phase reactant known to be increased in obesity. We hypothesised that LBP is produced by adipose tissue (AT) in association with obesity. LBP mRNA and LBP protein levels were analysed in AT from three cross-sectional (n = 210, n = 144 and n = 28) and three longitudinal (n = 8, n = 25, n = 20) human cohorts; in AT from genetically manipulated mice; in isolated adipocytes; and in human and murine cell lines. The effects of a high-fat diet and exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)gamma agonist were explored. Functional in vitro and ex vivo experiments were also performed. LBP synthesis and release was demonstrated to increase with adipocyte differentiation in human and mouse AT, isolated adipocytes and human and mouse cell lines (Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome [SGBS], human multipotent adipose-derived stem [hMAD] and 3T3-L1 cells). AT LBP expression was robustly associated with inflammatory markers and increased with metabolic deterioration and insulin resistance in two independent cross-sectional human cohorts. AT LBP also increased longitudinally with weight gain and excessive fat accretion in both humans and mice, and decreased with weight loss (in two other independent cohorts), in humans with acquired lipodystrophy, and after ex vivo exposure to PPAR gamma agonist. Inflammatory agents such as LPS and TNF-alpha led to increased AT LBP expression in vivo in mice and in vitro, while this effect was prevented in Cd14-knockout mice. Functionally, LBP knockdown using short hairpin (sh)RNA or anti-LBP antibody led to increases in markers of adipogenesis and decreased adipocyte inflammation in human adipocytes. Collectively, these findings suggest that LBP might have an essential role in inflammation- and obesity-associated AT dysfunction.

International audience; AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Our goal was to identify a set of human adipose tissue macrophage (ATM)-specific markers and investigate whether their gene expression in subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) as well as in visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is related to obesity and to the occurrence of the metabolic syndrome. METHODS: ATM-specific markers were identified by DNA microarray analysis of adipose tissue cell types isolated from SAT of lean and obese individuals. We then analysed gene expression of these markers by reverse transcription quantitative PCR in paired samples of SAT and VAT from 53 women stratified into four groups (lean, overweight, obese and obese with the metabolic syndrome). Anthropometric measurements, euglycaemic-hyperinsulinaemic clamp, blood analysis and computed tomography scans were performed. RESULTS: A panel of 24 genes was selected as ATM-specific markers based on overexpression in ATM compared with other adipose tissue cell types. In SAT and VAT, gene expression of ATM markers was lowest in lean and highest in the metabolic syndrome group. mRNA levels in the two fat depots were negatively correlated with glucose disposal rate and positively associated with indices of adiposity and the metabolic syndrome. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: In humans, expression of ATM-specific genes increases with the degree of adiposity and correlates with markers of insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome to a similar degree in SAT and in VAT.

International audience; The present method describes an immunoselection/depletion approach to isolate the native human adipose tissue-derived progenitor cells that are free from endothelial cells and immune cells by the use of magnetic nanobeads and microbeads coupled to antibodies. Moreover, methods to isolate and to analyse the distinct cell populations that constitute the microenvironment of the human adipose tissue progenitor cells, i.e. mature adipocytes, endothelial cells, and macrophages, are mentioned.

International audience; CONTEXT: Adipocyte formation in human adult adipose tissue (hAT) originates from resident progenitor cell differentiation in the stroma vascular fraction of the AT. The processes involved in the self-renewal of this cell population remain to be defined. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to study in situ and in vitro hAT progenitor cell (defined as CD34(+)/CD31(-) cells) proliferation. DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: In situ progenitor cell proliferation was assessed by immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry analyses on hAT from lean to obese subjects using the proliferation marker Ki-67. The effects of adipokines, hypoxia, and conditioned media (CM) from adipocytes, capillary endothelial cells, and macrophages isolated by an immunoselection approach were studied on hAT progenitor cell growth. Cell death in hAT was assessed by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-fluorescein end labeling method. RESULTS: Ki-67-positive staining was observed in AT progenitor cells. Fat mass enlargement in obese patients was associated with an increased Ki-67(+) progenitor cell population together with a new fraction of small adipocytes and increased cell death. HIF-1alpha mRNA expression in freshly harvested progenitor cells was positively correlated with body mass index. Adipocyte- and capillary endothelial cell-CM, hypoxia, leptin, IL-6, lysophosphatidic acid, and vascular endothelial growth factor, all increased hAT progenitor cell proliferation in vitro. Macrophage-CM had an antiproliferative effect that was suppressed by an antioxidant. CONCLUSIONS: The fraction of proliferative progenitor cells in adult hAT is modulated by the degree of adiposity. Changes in the progenitor cell microenvironment involving adipokines, hypoxia, and oxidative stress might play a key role in the control of the self-renewal of the local pool of AT progenitor cells.

International audience; Glycogen debranching enzyme (AGL) is a multifunctional enzyme acting in the glycogen degradation pathway. In humans, the AGL activity deficiency causes a type III glycogen storage disease (Cori-Forbes disease). One particularity of AGL gene expression lies in the multiple alternative splicing in its 5' region. The AGL gene was localized on ECA5q14-q15. The sequence of the equine cDNA was determined to be 7.5 kb in length with an open reading frame of 4602 bp. The gene is 69 kb long and contains 35 exons. The equine AGL gene has an ubiquitous expression and presents five tissue-dependent cDNA variants arising from alternative splicing of the first exons. The equine skeletal muscle and heart contain four out of six variants previously described in humans and the equine liver express three of these four human variants. We identified a new alternative splicing variant expressed in equine skeletal and heart muscles. All these mRNA variants most probably encode only two different protein isoforms of 1533 and 1377 amino-acids. Four SNPs were detected in the mRNA. The equine in silico promoter sequence reveals a structure similar to those of other mammalian species. The disposition of the transcription factor biding sites does not correlate to the transcription start sites of tissue-specific variants.

International audience; A medium-density map of the horse genome (Equus caballus) was constructed using genes evenly distributed over the human genome. Three hundred and twenty-three exonic primer pairs were used to screen the INRA and the CHORI-241 equine BAC libraries by polymerase chain reaction and by filter hybridization respectively. Two hundred and thirty-seven BACs containing equine gene orthologues, confirmed by sequencing, were isolated. The BACs were localized to horse chromosomes by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). Overall, 165 genes were assigned to the equine genomic map by radiation hybrid (RH) (using an equine RH(5000) panel) and/or by FISH mapping. A comparison of localizations of 713 genes mapped on the horse genome and on the human genome revealed 59 homologous segments and 131 conserved segments. Two of these homologies (ECA27/HSA8 and ECA12p/HSA11p) had not been previously identified. An enhanced resolution of conserved and rearranged chromosomal segments presented in this study provides clarification of chromosome evolution history.

International audience; Spatial and temporal control of ovine prion protein (Prnp) gene expression was achieved in mice using two transgenes: a Prnp minigene with tet-operator sequences inserted 50 to exon 1 and a mouse neurofilament genomic clone carrying the chimeric-repressor TRSID cDNA. In bi-transgenic mice, ovine PrPC expression could be reversibly controlled in neuronal cells by doxycycline treatment whereas it remains constant in other cell types. Overall, this model opens opportunities to assess the involvement of cell types in prion diseases and PrP physiological function. It demonstrates the potentiality of the TRSIDsilencer to precisely control temporal and spatial gene expression in vivo.